Power operated door



Aprifi 25, 1%? D. J. BEECHER ETAL 3,

POWER OPERATED DOOR Filed Feb. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS DONALD J. BEECHER ALVIN LODGE F G I BYEDWARD A. BELLUCCI WXX M April 25, 1%? o. JHBEECHER ETAL 3,315,413

POWER OPERATED DOOR Filed Feb. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z I fi .59 3 ll 33 H 34 v o o 33 I8 I 2| 56 50 L72 INVENTORS DONALD J. BEECHE R BY ALVIN LODGE EDWARD A. BELLUCGI Ma/K M W April 1967 D. J. BEECHER ETAL 3,315,413

POWER OPERATED DOOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 INVENTORS DONALD J. BEECHER BY ALVIN LODGE EDWARD A. BELLUCCI P 25, 3967 D. J. BEECHER ETAL Q 3,315,413

POWER OPERATED DOOR Filed Feb. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 L g? INVENTORS 48 DONALD J. BEECHER O BY ALVIN LODGE F G s EDWARD A. BELLUCCI Aprii 1967 D. J. BEECHER ETAL 3,

POWER OPERATED DOOR Filed Feb. 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet :1

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INVENTORS DONALD J. BEECHER ALVIN LODGE EDWARD'A. BELLUCCI BY M /&1,4

ATTORNEY United States Patent a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 430,967 Claims. (Cl. 49-280) This invention relates to hinges for closures and, more particularly, to hinges for power doors.

The doors on sterilizers and autoclaves are often actuated manually and, for this actuation, several separate distinct operations are necessary. To open such doors, it is first necessary to operate a mechanism to unclamp the clamping arms. Then, it is necessary to actuate a separate mechanism to move the clamping arms out of contact with a clamping surface. Then it is necessary to swing the door open.

The purpose of this mechanism is to simplify the operations involved in opening and closing doors used in places which it is impractical to operate manually or where it is necessary to have the hands of the operator free at all times.

The power hinge disclosed herein accomplishes these functions by a single motor. When the motor is driven in a first direction, it will unlock the arms of the door and swing the door open. It will also close the door and lock the door.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved power operated door.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for unlocking and swinging a closure.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved door closing and locking means for an autoclave or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved power operated door which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient in operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional view of a door closing and operating mechanism according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the shaft and right angled drive connection;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the mechanism for actuating the limit switches which control the door motor;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the door operating mechanism taken on line 55 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the door opening mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is an assembly view of the drawing according to the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the door operating mechanism is intended to actuate a door 30 connected to an autoclave 31. The door has a locking mechanism 32 which has outwardly radiating arms 33 which are connected to the locking mechanism 32 in the usual manner. The locking mechanism 32 may be of the general type shown in patent application, Serial No. 349,625, filed March 5, 1964.

3,315,413 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 The power from a motor connected toshaft 35 is transmitted through shaft 35 and through the worm 36 which is attached thereto. The worm 36 drives the worm gear 37 at a constant rate and transmits this power to threaded shaft 11. The threaded shaft 11 threadably receives the internal threads of the hollow threaded bore of the double track cam 12. The threaded shaft 11 is supported at its upper end in bearing 38 and at its lower end in bearing 39 shown in FIG. 6.

The door 30 is supported on the hinge by means of straps 34 and 134 which are both fixed to the door. Strap 34 is fixed to the movable housing 15 while strap 134 is fixed to the lower housing member 45. This entire assembly is carried by the stationary housing 10 which is fixed to the upper housing member 42. The journal 49 is fixed to the sterilizer body and it receives bearing extension 48 and acts as a guide. In the embodiment shown, the journal 49 does not take any downward thrust but merely guides or locates the lower end of the assembly.

The stationary housing 10 is locked at its upper end in the upper housing member 42 by means of the strap 90 which is an integral part of the upper housing member 42 but is separated therefrom at the side by the slot 91. Thus, the stationary housing 10 is clamped to the upper housing member 42 by a bolt extending through hole 93.

The lower housing member 45 has the bearing 39 clamped therein in a suitable counterbore. The bearing 39 is held in the counterbore by the bearing cap 46 which is clamped to the lower housing member 45 by cap screws 47. The bearing cap 46 has the bearing extension 48 integrally fixed thereto and it is received in a suitable journal 49 which is fixed to the autoclave body.

The lower end of the movable housing 15 is received in the upper end of the lower housing member 45 and has a suitable sealing ring 50 forming a seal therein. The two members are held together by a nut 51 which threadably engages the lower housing member 45.

The right angled drive 17 drives from the threaded shaft 11 through intermediate shaft 18, universal joint 21, and second intermediate shaft 56 to the right angled drive 20 and permits the right angled drive to take the place of the locking motor in prior doors.

The double track cam 12 has a generally cylindrical outside peripheral surface which freely slides up and down in stationary housing 10 and movable housing 15. It is internally threaded as aforesaid and received on the outside of the threaded shaft 11.

The stationary cam follower 13 is a cylindrical member which is fixed to the stationary housing 10 and extends radially inwardly therefrom with its inner end received in the vertical portion of the cam track 81. The fixed follower 14 is a cylindrical member similar to the stationary cam follower 13 but it is fixed to the movable housing 15.

The cam tracks 81 and 82 have a vertical portion which extends generally parallel to the axis of the threaded shaft 11 and spiralled lower portions which extend downwardly and around the periphery of the cam 12 in the manner shown. with their lower ends extending spirally toward each other; that is, in an opposite hand around the cam.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate shaft 56 has a worm wheel 59 on the end which engages the worm gear 60 of the right angled drive 20. The right angled drive connects to the screw housing 25 and actuates the socket plate 23 which carries the radiating arms 33 and the entire mechanism is supported on the threaded screw 22 which is fixed to the door 30. The radiating arms 33 operate in the manner of the said patent application, Serial No. 349,625.

In the slide and switch arrangement shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement is attached to the autoclave. The frame 61 is fixed to the autoclave body and the slide 62 is slidable in the track formed between the bars 63 and 64. The bars 63 and 64 are anchored to the end member 65. A threaded shaft 66 is journalled at 67 in the end member 65 and the end of the threaded shaft 66 is driven in synchronism with the threaded shaft 11. The threads on the threaded shaft 66 are received in a threaded hole 68 in slide 62. The micro switches 27 are fixed to the side of the bar 63 and may be adjusted to the desired position thereon by means of the screws 70. Slides 26 are fixed to the slide 62 and move therewith. Thus, when slide 26 is moved to the extreme right, it actuates the limit switch 72 and when slide 26 is moved to the extreme left, it actuates limit switch 73. These limit switches may be set to stop the door in open position or to reverse it toward a closing position.

In operation, a motor is connected to the shaft 35 with worm 36 attached. When the motor is started, it will rotate the shaft 35 with worm 36 and transmit the power to worm gear 37 which is fixed to threaded shaft 11. The threaded shaft 11 is connected to the right angle drive 17 which causes the intermediate shaft 18 to rotate. The intermediate shaft 18 is connected through the universal joint 21 to the intermediate shaft 56 and then to right angle drive 20 which causes the screw housing 25 to move. Since threaded screw 22 is fixed, screw housing 25 will move out by threaded screw 22 and cause radiating arms 33 to unlock the door from its end frame.

While the threaded shaft 11 is rotating, cam 12 is moving up in a lineal direction guided by stationary cam follower 13 in cam track 81. At the same time, the radiating arms 33 are unlocked from their end frame and cam followers 13 and 14 have engaged in a forty-five degree motion of the cam tracks 81 and 82 by the upward movement of the cam 12. The fixed cam follower 14 is held rigid to the movable housing 15 which is fastened to the door by strap 34.

As the cam 12 continues upward, it revolves about stationary cam follower 13 in the cam track 81. The fixed cam follower 14 moves in the cam track 82-and causes a rapid opening of the door. open, the electrical motor power will be cut off by a slide and switch mechanically in time with the mechanism as shown in FIG. 4. As the motor becomes energized, it causes rotation of the threaded shaft 66 and lineal motion of slide 26, both of which are directly proportional to the threaded shaft 11 and cam 12 so that as cam 12 is approaching the end of its stroke, slide 26 is approaching limit switch 7 2 and as slide'26 contacts limit switch '72, it will cut off power to the motor and, at the same time, the door is open or in the reverse cycle. Thus, the door is opened and the arms are unlocked.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but it is understood that the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents Without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In combination, an autoclave, a door, and a door operating mechanism,

said operating mechanism having a motor,

means connected to said motor to move said door to closed position, a means connected to said motor to lock said door when it is in closed position,

said means connected to said motor being further adapted to unlock said door and to move said door to open position when it is unlocked,

said means connected to aid motor comprising a When the door is completely threaded shaft connected to said motor to be rotated thereby,

said threaded shaft being disposed concentric to the axis of swinging of said door,

a fixed member,

a cam member threadably supported on said threaded shaft,

a first cam element and a second cam element on said cam member,

a first follower member fixed to said fixed member and engaging said first cam element,

a second cam lfollower member fixed to said door and engaging said second cam element,

and gear means and said cam elements and said cam follower members operably connecting said threaded shaft to said locking means, said cam elements being so related that said cam member is not rotated relative to said fixed member until said threaded shaft is rotated .a predetermined number of turns in a given direction whereby said threaded shaft moves said follower members along said cam elements without swinging said door until said locking means is unlocked and said cam member swings said door open when said locking means is unlocked.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said gear means comprises a second shaft and gear mechanism at each end thereof,

said second shaft being operably connected to said door locking means and to said threaded shaft.

3. A mechanism for swinging a door and for locking said door by means of a single motor, said means comprising a hollow fixed housing,

a hollow movable housing generally aligned with said fixed housing,

a threaded shaft extending through said housings,

motor means to rotate said threaded shaft,

a door fixed to said movable housing,

a locking mechanism on said door,

gear and shaft means rotatably connected to said locking mechanism whereby when said threaded shaft rotates, it locks or unlocks said locking mechanism,

a cam,

said cam being threadably supported on said threaded shaft,

means on said cam to rotate said movable housing in a first direction after said gear and shaft means have been rotated a predetermined amount in a first direction,

and means on said cam to rotate said movable housing in a second direction after said gear and shaft means have been rotated a predetermined amount in a second direction.

4. The mechanism recited in claim 3 wherein said means on said cam comprises a first and a second cam surface thereon,

a first follower fixed to said fixed housing and engaging said first cam surface,

a second follower fixed to said movable housing and engaging said second cam surface,

said cam surfaces being so related that said movable housing is not rotated relative to said fixed housing until said threaded shaft is rotated a predetermined number of turns in a given direction.

5. An actuating mechanism for actuating a door locking mechanism and for actuating a door opening and closing mechanism comprising a door,

a fixed member supporting said door and said mechanism,

said mechanism comprising a motor,

driven means connected to said motor to drive said locking mechanism to locked position or to unlocked position,

said driven means being connected to said motor in such a manner that it is inactive while said locking means is locked but activated when said locking means is unlocked,

said means connected to said motor comprising a threaded shaft connected to said motor to be rotated thereby,

said threaded shaft being disposed concentric to the axis of swinging of said door,

a fixed member,

a cam member threadably supported on said threaded shaft,

a first cam element and a second cam element on said cam member,

a first follower member fixed to said fixed member and engaging said first cam element,

and gear means operably connecting said threaded shaft to said locking means whereby said threaded shaft moves said follower members along said cam elements without swinging said door until said locking means is unlocked and said cam member swings said door open when said locking means is unlocked.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,400,568 5/1946 Norris 220-36 X 3,145,021 8/1964 Anderson 268-65 3,202,414 8/1965 Simmons et a1. 2683 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

a second cam follower member fixed to said door and 15 J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner.

engaging said second cam element, 

1. IN COMBINATION, AN AUTOCLAVE, A DOOR, AND A DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM, SAID OPERATING MECHANISM HAVING A MOTOR, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR TO MOVE SAID DOOR TO CLOSED POSITION, MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR TO LOCK SAID DOOR WHEN IT IS IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR BEING FURTHER ADAPTED TO UNLOCK SAID DOOR AND TO MOVE SAID DOOR TO OPEN POSITION WHEN IT IS UNLOCKED, SAID MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR COMPRISING A THREADED SHAFT CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR TO BE ROTATED THEREBY, SAID THREADED SHAFT BEING DISPOSED CONCENTRIC TO THE AXIS OF SWINGING OF SAID DOOR, A FIXED MEMBER, A CAM MEMBER THREADABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID THREADED SHAFT, A FIRST CAM ELEMENT AND A SECOND CAM ELEMENT ON SAID CAM MEMBER, A FIRST FOLLOWER MEMBER FIXED TO SAID FIXED MEMBER AND ENGAGING SAID FIRST CAM ELEMENT, AND GEAR MEANS AND SAID CAM ELEMENTS, AND SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEMBERS OPERABLY CONNECTING SAID THREADED SHAFT TO SAID LOCKING MEANS, SAID CAM ELEMENTS BEING SO RELATED THAT SAID CAM MEMBER IS NOT ROTATED RELATIVE TO SAID FIXED MEMBER UNTIL SAID THREADED SHAFT IS ROTATED A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF TURNS IN A GIVEN DIRECTION WHEREBY SAID THREADED SHAFT MOVES SAID FOLLOWER MEMBERS ALONG SAID CAM ELEMENTS WITHOUT SWINGING SAID DOOR UNTIL SAID LOCKING MEANS IS UNLOCKED AND SAID CAM MEMBER SWINGS SAID DOOR OPEN WHEN SAID LOCKING MEANS IS UNLOCKED. 